Three South Floridians Die In Ohio Plane Crash

COLUMBUS, OH (CBS) ― Three people have died in a plane crash in Ohio. All three of them were from South Florida.

The twin engine cargo plane went down in a field near Rickenbacker Airport in Columbus. The plane had just taken off when it crashed. According to officers on the scene, the pilot radioed the airport just before the crash to ask for a landing strip, but did not request emergency equipment.

The victims have been identified as 57-year-old James Monahan of Plantation, 41-year-old Sean Gardiner and Urs Andereeg of Miami.

Monahan's friends heard the news and spoke to CBS4 about their friend. "It's a heck of a loss. A loss for the family, a loss for the community... a loss for his friends," said Jim Archer. Monahan's friends say he was a very experienced and cautious pilot. Monahan was the father of two and had one grandchild. According to family members, he'd been flying since 1970.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration is trying to determine which of the three was piloting the plane at the time.

Fonte: Flight Safety Information 02/09/2008.